Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

Trotter is a potentially high-reward player signed as a free agent halfway through the 2007-08 season when he left the Univ. of Denver. He had long been on the Canadiens radar. Assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

2006-07: This marked Trotter’s second season with the University of Denver (WCHA), a 40 game campaign that resulted in 16 goals and 40 points, a career-high for the center’s collegiate career.

2007-08: The center wrapped up his collegiate career a year early this season, netting 13 goals and 31 points in24 games with the University of Denver (WCHA); Denver took the WCHA title, thanks in part to Trotter’s output. He had quite the run with UD: in 69 games he tallied 32 goals and 76 points.

2008-09: Trotter centered for Hamilton in 76 games this season, racking up 18 goals and 49 points in his first full season as a pro. Expect to see him back with the Bulldogs next season.

2009-10: A third season with Hamilton brought Trotter his first PPG pro season, tallying 77 points in 75 games, 36 of them being goals. Given a brief tryout with the big club, Trotter appeared in two games with the blue, red and white, unable to register an NHL point.2010-11: Trotter skated for Dynamo Riga in Russia's KHL rather than returning to Hamilton for a third AHL season. In 49 games he scored 9 goals with 17 assists and was +3 with 38 PMs. Riga finished fourth in the Tarasov Division. In 11 playoff games he scored 4 goals with 5 assists and was -7 with 10 PMs. Trotter was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Canadiens as a restricted free agent in July 2011.

Talent Analysis

Trotter is a beast from the blueline in, with a solid burst and nose for the net. He also is capable of playing a physical, gritty game that belies his size.

Future

Trotter, who went undrafted, is a long-term project for the Canadiens. There are a lot of rough edges to his game and he'll have plenty of time to work on them in Hamilton. Defensive responsibilities, in particular, are things upon which he needs to focus.

Totter signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens in July, 2011. The Canadiens then shipped Trotter to the Phoenix Coyotes in October of 2011.